High ceilings, checkered limestone floors and a sweeping staircase give this entrance hall an air of casual grandeur.

“Interior designer Windsor Smith is a genius,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “It’s hard to pick one room of hers, but this entryway in her own home combines so many elements I love — a classic stone floor, a vintage Moroccan lantern, a great upholstered piece and the view of a black-walled room in the distance. Black is my new paint colour obsession!”

“This image has been used as reference for many design projects,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “The rustic wide-plank wood floors and Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis wallpaper are simple, yet a combination you won’t forget! Entryways are a great place to have fun with colour and pattern. They introduce you to a home, so make sure yours makes a statement!”

"This kitchen is spectacular," exclaims Erin. "It includes all the things I look for in a classic kitchen — white cabinets, Cararra marble, classic lighting and lots of light. What lucky homeowners these are!"

“Jonathan’s work always makes me smile,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “This dining room was the first time I fell in love with faux bamboo chairs, and that admiration has only grown with time. Jonathan’s so bold and fearless with colour — I aspire to be able to candy coat a room like he does someday!”

"I adore navy rooms, and this one happens to combine blue with two of my favourite fabrics," says Erin. A fabric-covered ceiling, bright sconce lighting and matching gold tables warm up the monochromatic space.

In this Long Island home, slim-legged chairs, tables and a modern tripod lamp balance a weightier upholstered sofa and chair.

“Steven Gambrel is one of the most talented designers out there today,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “This room’s colour scheme and mix of modern and traditional elements is at once cosy and high style. His ability to make a room cohesive but not boring is something I try to emulate on a daily basis.”

Tall French doors and stunning mouldings give this space European cachet.

“I gasped when I first saw this room in Domino,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “The traditional architectural details and grand chandelier, paired with a bold yellow sofa and modern chairs atop a zebra rug, make for a dramatic, incredible space! I love designing with this approach — mixing historical styles keeps a room looking fresh.”

Crisp white bedding, a campaign bed frame, vintage wallpaper and bold hues create an eclectic, romantic effect in the famous New York designer’s boudoir.

“This is, hands down, my favourite bedroom of all time,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “The Chinoiserie paper, juxtaposed against the modern stools and Madeline Weinrib rug, makes for an incredible visual impact. This room inspired me to be a designer!”

“I adore the bright, happy and crisp feeling this bedroom exudes,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “The pop of colour on the quilt and pillow are just enough to make it whimsical, while the abundance of white and light colours keeps it serene. It’s a hard balance to achieve!”

“Mary McDonald is one of my all-time favourite designers,” says Erin Gates, a Boston interior designer and author of the popular Elements of Style blog. “I love the colour scheme of this office and the gallery-style photo wall. It’s both glamorous and modern, and certainly a space I’d love to work in!”